Letter 298

298. Without superscription, to a devout man

That you deign to use us as counsellors in all things and as sharers in your concerns, you do in a manner befitting your own perfection; and may God reward you both for your love toward us and for your care in the conduct of life. But that this delusion has touched you I was amazed, and that you have believed some irrational power to reside in water, and that with no testimony to confirm the report. For there is no one of those who went there who received, whether less or more, into his body any of the good things he had hoped for. Unless, indeed, some relief came to someone of itself, of the kind that naturally befalls men in their sleep or while they are engaged in other things in the course of life. But the one who does away with love persuades the simpler sort to reckon these chance occurrences to the nature of the water. And that our word is true, you may be taught from the very experience itself.